Connor BrookeHome based businesses provide genuine opportunities to make money online in 2012. Marketing or selling through an eCommerce store, online shopping cart, blog or website brings great opportunity, as you’ll see in my list of inspirational business successes later in the article.
Home based businesses and startups are far easier to establish now than just a few years ago. And now more than ever, entrepreneurial spirit and small business startups (from the home, garage, dorm room, etc) are needed to help boost the economy.
What you need for an online home based startup
Apart from what your business actually offers (i.e. expert advice, custom designed throw pillows, etc), you will need:
- Internet & office equipment
- Domain and web hosting
- Website (i.e. blog, eCommerce store)
Find everything you need with the following articles and resources for small business startups:
- The best small business web hosting services, 2012
- The 5 best small business web design companies
- Five money-saving products and services for the modern small business and office
- Choose from the best eCommerce & shopping cart business solutions
- Top 10 small business software products, 2012
- Free quotes on discount, brand name business equipment and office supplies
- BYOD: Top five mobile devices for business, 2012
- How to save money on printing, printers, printer ink, ink cartridges and ink toner
- The best eCommerce shopping carts, online store builders, and business resources
Once you’re setup, you’ll need to learn more about SEO, Internet marketing, social media in order to help promote your online business. But for now, let’s get on with our home based business ideas.
Top 10 list of the best home based business ideas, 2012
If you are looking to start up a home business then look no further than this top 10 list of the best ways to make money online, from home.
I hope you’ll find something to inspire you to startup today. There’s no time like the present (and don’t forget about me when you’re sipping pina-coladas off the deck of your yacht ;)
1. Specialist consulting
If you have experience or skills then one of the best ways to make money is by providing niche industry wisdom and expert advice. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in.
Start blogging about what you know. Offer to help people by providing knowledge. Answer questions other sites, blogs and forums.
Once people recognize you as an expert they will trust you, and you can start leveraging that trust to make money by offering services and consulting in your niche.
2. Boutique online store
Do you have a passion for designing cushions? Do you love making gourmet cupcakes? If there is something you love doing, then do it online.
Set up an eCommerce store. Blog about what you do. Make your content exciting and visual so that your passion transfers to visitors who just have to buy.
3. eLearning content
If there is a subject you are knowledgeable in, or know plenty of people who are knowledgeable about something, then use that to make money.
Set up a subscription based service to train people. Offer them courses, complete with exercises and marked online quizzes. Award them with certificates upon completion.
4. Specialty reviews
Do you love fine dining? How about wine tasting? Does staying in luxury hotels appeal to you?
Start up a blog and begin reviewing local products and services. Do a good job and local merchants and retailers will quickly catch on to the value of being reviewed by you. Leverage that demand to make money, as well as using ads and affiliate links to generate additional cash from readers.
5. Innovative local services
There are a million and one things that get in people’s way each day. If you have a smart idea about how to help, then set it up.
idea: If you have a pickup you could offer to pick up people’s old furtniture for free. It saves them time and money taking it to the dump. You can then resell it via your website.
idea: People hate queuing at local grocery stores after work. Why not let them pre-order from your website and have it waiting for them. They don’t have to pay for parking, fight with crowds or wait in queues. Well worth the small amount you charge for the service.
With limited resources, you’ll have to start local. But franchising to different towns and cities is a great option for growth later down the line.
6. Online real-time tutorials and lessons
Google+ offers incredible resources for video conferencing and online hangouts. Why not offer one hour lessons by video online? People can sign up on your website and access live tutorials and lesson, possibly followed by some Q and A for added interactivity.
You don’t have to charge much, and as the word spreads you could end up with thousands of students attending each lesson.
7. Niche blogging
Blogging is a great way to make a residual income. It’s definitely a medium term investment though, so it’s only viable if you are passionate about your niche topic.
Use social media, SEO and Internet marketing to build up traffic volumes, engage with readers and earn their trust. Make money from advertising and affiliate links.
8. Remote PA
If you’re planning on working from home full-time, then why not offer to help people who can’t find enough hours in the day to do everything they need.
Preferably offer services that you can perform online such as research, administration, writing, editing, and so on. Otherwise, focus on the local market… especially if you need to run errands.
The more you can work online, the more scope there is to hire low maintenance virtual office workers to expand your business.
9. Discounts & deals
Times are tough. People appreciate finding high quality services and products at low prices. Scour the web for the top deals and pass them on to your readers. Make sure you do it in an exciting, interesting and unique way – there is a lot of competition in this industry.
Alternatively, start local. Approach local merchants and retailers and get them to run specials which you promote. As you build up a following, the tables will turn and it will be merchants who approach you to write about their specials. Leverage that demand to make money.
10. IT
Do you know how to build mobile apps? How about games? Are you a guru in a forgotten programming language? Are you an incredible graphic designer?
Hardcore IT and technical skills are well suited to online home based business. All the coolest companies were started in garages, bedrooms or dorm rooms by IT nerds.
Use your website to show off your abilities. Convincing clients to take you on is difficult at first, but, providing you do a good job, referrals will keep new clients coming in.
Inspirational business successes
To inspire you to get started with your new home based business, I thought I would finish off with a few stories of how the Internet, a bit of determination and creativity, helped some people to achieve success.
If they can do it, so can you:
What other business ideas would you include on this list? Have you started a home based online business? Had any success? Share your hopes, fears, and experiences in the comments, or join the conversation on LinkedIn.
Read more: 8 Ways to Fund Your Startup
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Connor Brooke.
Learn how to publish your content on B2C
Join our Telegram channel to stay up to date on breaking news coverage
Add B2C to your Google News Feed
Good article! I own a small media buying agency that works with small business owners all over the U.S. I think one of the smartest things new business owners can do is network. Find companies that you can have a mutually beneficial relationship and reach out to them either online or via phone. Support and build one another up!
Also, if you are in a business that requires recruiting for success, I have had great success with my clients on job boards. It can be an affordable way to reach new prospects quickly.
As a freelance writer, I’ve found that niche blogging can be rather lucrative once you build your brand image. Although it does take time, the rewards are worth the wait.
I believe that a theme-based website is the most secure way of going about building a home based business. They’re simply ever-green in Google and integrate themselves deeper into the search engines.
Great article, man. Really great. I’ve made up my mind now. I was badly searching for ideas for doing something meaningful online. Now, God willing, I’ll start consulting people about relationships and daily life issues. Thanks for the great, great advice, David!
Working from home is a true blessing, and I believe that with hard work, anyone can make a real income online. The 2 things that have worked the best for me are freelancing, and network marketing. If you have a skill people will pay for, then start a free blog, and get started. If you have found a good network marketing business, with good products, then go for it! Network marketing is like being able to make a small investment in a franchise, and have that investment turn into thousands of dollars. It can be awesome!! The most important thing is to take ACTION. Take daily action toward your goal of working at home and you will make it happen! Good luck all:)
useful tips..
Very good article. As Kay says Network Marketing can be awesome and reap great rewards. I have great success with possibly the world’s greatest Network Marketing tool. You can find it at http://tiny.cc/11zkrw